title: Rational syntheses of core-shell Fex@Pt nanoparticles for the study of electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction.
abstract: We report on the syntheses of core-shell Fex@Pt (x=0.4-1.2) nanoparticles (NPs) with Pt-shell thickness systematically controlled while the overall particle size is constant. The syntheses were achieved via one-pot ultrasound-assisted polyol synthesis (UPS) reactions. Fe1.2@Pt showed a record-breaking high core-element content (55 at%) of core-shell NPs. Based on observations from a series of control experiments, we propose a mechanism of the NPs' formation that enables control of shell thickness in UPS reactions. Fex@Pt NPs showed drastic enhancements in mass and specific activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and significantly enhanced durability compared to commercial Pt NPs. Fex@Pt with a 1 (monolayer) ML Pt shell showed the highest activity. The ab initio density functional theory calculations on the binding energies of oxygen species on the surfaces of Fex@Pt NPs showed that the 1 ML case is most favourable for the ORR, and in good agreement with the experimental results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, HRD Center for Creative Convergence Chemical Sciences, SAINT/Center for Human Interface Nano Technology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Eunjik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jinwoo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Gunn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Suklyun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Young-Uk
authors.initials: YU
authors.lastname: Kwon